Emma Raducanu trounced the former US Open champion Sloane Stephens with a devastating performance at Eastbourne.
While it may only have been a first-round win, this 6-4, 6-0 victory felt like Raducanu’s best effort on grass since she first burst into the national consciousness by reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2021.
Admittedly, Stephens did rather give up the chase, dropping her intensity noticeably after going down a break in the second set. But Raducanu had been forced to earn her advantage after a tight and nervy first half-hour.
Once she had claimed the opening set, however, she was untouchable as she romped to victory in just 76 minutes. Her second-set performance delivered 13 clean winners to place against just one unforced error, leaving a demoralised Stephens counting down the seconds until she could finally sneak off the court.
The key game came at 4-4 in the first set, as Raducanu served and went 15-40 down. She saved the two break points brilliantly, first stranding Stephens with a perfectly judged drop shot – the only time she used this ploy in the match – and then banging down an ace.
After an extended to-and-fro, Raducanu held for 5-4 and then reeled off another seven games to march into the second round in fine fettle.
After concluding the win, which should carry her back into the world’s top 150 even if she doesn’t win another match in Eastbourne, Raducanu performed an on-court interview in which she said “For me it was a case of adapting to the court, I have never played out on this Centre Court before and every grass court plays very differently.
“I think it was a very close first set and I was down all the way through in the first set but I managed to break. It was difficult as Sloane is super-athletic and, in the first set especially, she was making a lot of balls and counter-punching really well. So it took a lot to try and hit through her but I managed to figure it out in the second set.”
That tight game at 4-4 felt like it was the moment at which Raducanu found her form. She had been wayward early on, with her first-serve percentage hovering only just above 50 and her forehand looking decidedly shaky.
But after several conversations with her coach Nick Cavaday at courtside, Raducanu began to time the ball better. It looked like Cavaday was encouraging her to play with more shape, and by the end she was stroking the ball around with confidence and fluency.
Raducanu wrote the words, “My own pace” on the TV camera as she left the court. As she said on the eve of the tournament, “I’ve really rekindled a light and a fire inside of me … I’m just really grateful to have this feeling again because it’s something that I’ve been missing for the last few years.”
Raducanu rips through Stephens: as it happened
02:30 PM BST
The winning moment
02:28 PM BST
Raducanu speaks after beating Sloane Stephens
For me it was a case of adapting to the court, I have never played out on this centre court before and every grass court plays very differently.
I think it was a very close first set and I was down all the way through in the first set but I managed to break. It was difficult as Sloane is very difficult to break. She was making many balls and was counter-punching very well.’
Thank you to everyone who came and supported. I could really hear you guys and feel it. It’s a much bigger court than the center court in Nottingham. It’s really nice to see so many people out here battling the heat. I actually think it’s worse for you guys sitting down in the heat than for us playing and sweating in it, so big props to you . . .
Asked if she was planning to watch England team face Slovenia at Euro 2024 later tonight:
Yes, 100 per cent! I am there and ready to go! Go England!
02:23 PM BST
Raducanu 6-4 6-0 Stephens*
Raducanu is relishing her Eastbourne debut! Flat forehand by Stephens drifts wide and Raducanu leads 15-0. However, the British player hits back with a big forehand down the line for the winner.
Second match point for Raducanu when Stephens flies a her backhand wide. This is aggressive tennis by Raducanu and she finished a sublime forehand. Game, set and match for Raducanu.
The British player books her place in the second round at Eastbourne.
02:18 PM BST
Raducanu* 6-4 5-0 Stephens
What a gear shift from 4-4 in the first set. Raducanu on a run of five straight games and three straight breaks of the Stephens serve. Also now up to 75 per cent first serves in, during set 2.
02:17 PM BST
Raducanu 6-4 4-0 Stephens*
Raducanu shows no signs of letting up! She wins the first point with a powerful forehand down the line – then another dominating point from Raducanu follows and an elegant backhand across the court is too much for Stephens.
The Briton seals the game by producing a sublime backhand down the line – right now, Stephens has no answer.
02:13 PM BST
Raducanu* 6-4 3-0 Stephens
The Briton wins the first point of the game with a powerful backhand down the line. However, she finds the net in the next point through and its 15 each.
A dominating point from Raducanu follows and an elegant down the line is too much for the American and its 15-30.
A real chance for the Briton to take control of this second set – as her forehand is proving too much for Stephens and its advantage to Raducanu.
Another point for Raducanu and its 3-0.
02:10 PM BST
Raducanu 6-4 2-0 Stephens*
Early stages of the second set here – as Raducanu is looking comfortable here! She steers a forehand down the line with Raducanu going 30-15.
The Briton fires another well-time forehand down the line to seal the game – this is gusty play from Raducanu!
02:07 PM BST
Raducanu is finding her rhythm
What a finish from Raducanu there. The forehand was a liability for the first half hour, but she found her timing on it and the penultimate point of the set delivered the best shot of the set: a half-volleyed forehand winner up the line. More of that please!
02:05 PM BST
Second set: Raducanu 6-4 1-0 Stephens*
Raducanu is growing in confidence here and absorbing everything that Stephens is throwing at her!
The Briton is showing brilliant power and placement – as Raducanu looks composed at the moment with serve, as she moves 40-15.
Now, the pressure is ramping up at Eastbourne.
01:57 PM BST
Raducanu*6-4 Stephens
The American is looking very calm and composed on her serve at the moment but Raducanu is digging in towards the business end of this first set.
Raducanu reading the American’s serve well – which gives the British player two sets points.
Raducanu is creating so many openings for herself with the power she possesses in her game. She takes the first set after the third time of asking as Stephen’s forehand goes wide.
Opening set to the Briton.
01:55 PM BST
Raducanu shows resilience
Interesting match! Raducanu struggling with her first serve – percentage dropped to barely 50 per cent for a bit – and talking a lot to coach Nick Cavaday. A few bad calls going against her, and an unlucky net cord, but she shows resilience to end a run of four straight breaks of serve.
01:48 PM BST
Raducanu 5-4 Stephens*
Shot of the day from Raducanu as she steers a forehand down the line, with Stephens going the other way 30-15.
Raducanu is struggling with her ball toss as the wind begins to pick up at Eastbourne. The American gets a look at the second serve and drills a sublime backhand return which is too strong for Raducanu, break point.
However, Raducanu with a timely first serve snuffs out another break point for Stephens – who is beginning to find her rhythm in this match.
Raducanu bangs in a first serve and the ball flies away for the ace – a brilliant hold by the British player.
01:42 PM BST
Raducanu* 4-4 Stephens
Stephens under a little bit of pressure here as she slips to 15-30. However, she gets back into the game with Raducanu’s wild forehand.
Stephens pushed a backhand long but faces two break points when a backhand is called long – the American questions it but the call stands.
Big roar of ‘come on’ by Raducanu as she wins the game.
01:38 PM BST
Raducanu 3-4 Stephens*
The American is looking very calm and composed at the moment as she moves 40-0. The American appears to have the upper hand when the rally goes beyond five shots. Her backhand is holding up well on the grass court.
01:34 PM BST
Raducanu 3-3 Stephens*
Love hold for Raducanu – still waiting for this match to come alive but as we enter the business end of the set. Surely, the tension between both players should increase.
Both players are performing solidly without taking control and dominating.
01:31 PM BST
Raducanu 2-3 Stephens*
Great hustle by both players but Stephens comes out on top. It was a brilliant return by Raducanu but Stephens races for the short ball and hits a well-time drop shot.
She doesn’t drop enough because Raducanu chases it down and flicks a backhand into the open court for a winner, 30-15.
However, Stephens’ forehand down the line is too hot for Raducanu and she breaks Raducanu for the first time.
01:19 PM BST
Raducanu* 2-2 Stephens (*denotes next server)
Raducanu continues her blistering start with two deep returns to go love-30. However, she finally loses her first point deep in the court when she nets a forehand.
At 15-30, Raducanu comes unstuck with a wild forehand and on the next point she hooks one into the net. This puts Stephens back in the ascendency, getting her powerful forehand working and striking big crosscourt winners.
The American cruises to 40-30 – with an impressive forehand to seal the game.
01:14 PM BST
Big differential on serve speeds
Classic grass-court beginning with 12 of the first 13 points going with serve. Big differential on serve speeds though. Raducanu up around 108mph and Stephens just rolling ‘em in at 92mph. Gotta feel like that will be significant down the track.
01:12 PM BST
Raducanu 2-1 Stephens* (*denotes next server)
Apologies but the BBC coverage has just begun – so we have missed the very start of this match.
Raducanu starts like a train to race to 40-0 love, the first two points with unreturnable serves. The American goes down to love by planting her backhand into the net.
01:09 PM BST
Out they come
Sloane Stephens first to a decent round of applause but nothing like the cacophony that greets Emma Raducanu at Eastbourne.
01:07 PM BST
The players are walking towards the court
Emma Raducanu is leading the way, looking down before she emerges into the court.
01:02 PM BST
TV coverage in the UK
Is on BBC Two.
01:01 PM BST
Raducanu during a practice session at Eastbourne
12:56 PM BST
Raducanu: I’ve fallen back in love with tennis
Emma Raducanu has declared she has ‘rekindled a fire inside me’ by playing in front of home crowds again as she beamed her way through her pre-tournament interviews at Eastbourne.
“I’m just really into it at the moment,” said Raducanu. “I love the sport. I love tennis. I’ve really rekindled a light and a fire inside of me. Just very happy and enjoying it a lot.
“I would say right before Nottingham it happened,” she added. “I’m just really grateful to have this feeling again because it’s something that I’ve been missing for the last few years. I haven’t felt this good about my tennis and just excited and passionate for a long, long time.”
Former US Open champion has played very few matches on home soil – just 11 at tour level. Until this season, the only time she has gained momentum on the grass was in 2021 – her first summer as a professional.
Read Simon Briggs’ piece full piece here.
12:46 PM BST
Raducanu eyes up another deep run
By Theodore Gardner
Emma Raducanu faces up against Sloane Stephens in the round of 32 at Eastbourne.
In her last outing in Nottingham, Raducanu lost in the semi-finals to British No 1 and eventual winner Katie Boulter.
Boulter came back from a set down to triumph over the 2021 US Open champion in a combined three hours and 13 minutes.
This time out, Raducanu has history against her opponent. The last time the two faced off in Australia, Raducanu took the victory in three sets. Stephens expressed her annoyance after the match at Raducanu shouting in triumph after winning just her first point.
Stephens said: “I think she, yeah, has just a lot to learn. I was talking to someone in the locker-room, and I’m like: ‘We’ll be here when she comes down.’”
Raducanu will be hopeful that she can recreate her victory from 2022, and book herself a place in the round of 16. Stephens coming into the match on a sequence of six defeats from seven matches makes the chance of a positive outcome for Raducanu ever more likely.
Raducanu is in high spirits having recently declared that she has “rekindled a fire inside me” from playing on home soil.
She said: “I’m just really into it at the moment. I love the sport. I love tennis. I’ve really rekindled a light and a fire inside of me. Just very happy and enjoying it a lot.
“I’m just really grateful to have this feeling again because it’s something that I’ve been missing for the last few years. I haven’t felt this good about my tennis and just excited and passionate for a long, long time.”
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